The nurse is caring for a patient with suspected dysphagia. Which action is most appropriate for the nurse to take?
a. Encourage incentive spirometry use.
b. Instruct the patient to take practice swal-lows before the meal.
c. Encourage patient attempts to communi-cate, and pay attention to nonverbal cues.
d. Encourage the patient to keep a food di-ary.
B
Dysphagia means difficulty in swallowing. The nurse should have the patient take some "practice swallows" before beginning the meal, and watch to see that the larynx rises with each swallow. Incentive spirometry usage is important or patients with dyspnea, or shortness of breath. Encouraging communication and paying attention to nonverbal cues is an effective intervention for aphasia (inability to use or understand words). Keeping a food diary may be useful in cases of polyphagia (extreme hunger), but it does not evaluate whether or not the patient can swallow ef-fectively.
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